Moldova’s parliament confirmed Natalia Gavrilita as the country’s new prime minister, also approving her program to pull the post-Soviet country out of a protracted crisis and bring it closer to the EU.
The main pro-European party won a resounding victory in parliamentary polls last month, strengthening the hand of President Maia Sandu as she pushes to reform Moldova.
The snap election – called by Sandu in April to shore up her position against pro-Russia lawmakers blocking reform – saw her center-right Action and Solidarity (PAS) party take 52.8% of the vote.
On Friday, 61 lawmakers in the 101-seat parliament voted to approve the candidacy of 43-year-old Gavrilita, a Harvard-educated former finance minister.
“The government faces an extremely important task – to show that Moldova can be governed by honest people with good intentions,” Gavrilita said as she unveiled her program.
The new prime minister said she wanted to transform Moldova and its political class and halt corruption.
To that end, she added, she was increasing the number of cabinet ministers to 13 from nine.
The government will focus on reforming the justice system, attracting investment, creating high-paying jobs and raising pensions, she said.
Read the full story on Daily Sabah
